Washington reaction to the Afghan document dump is solidifying into "How dared they release official secrets!" combined with "Nothing new here, we knew all that." Politicians of all stripes are embracing both harrumphs. Unblessed-by-Wikileaks media people tend to favor the latter. But behind such butt-covering responses are issues that will take time to sort out. One of … [Read more...] about Double Harrumph on the WikiLeak
WikiLeaks Memos Say Ex-ISI Chief Plotted Karzai Assassination: Daily Outlook, Afghanistan
Since, as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has told the press, only a few thousand of the 90,000 classified documents his organization released have even been examined, there is likely to be a stream of fascinating revelations for months to come. According to this news item from Afghanistan's Outlook Afghanistan, the documents reveal that among other things, in 2008, retired … [Read more...] about WikiLeaks Memos Say Ex-ISI Chief Plotted Karzai Assassination: Daily Outlook, Afghanistan
WikiLeaks: U.S. Scapegoats ISI to ‘Hide its Own Shame’: The Nation, Pakistan
Is WikiLeaks acting as a convenient American tool to smear Pakistan's intelligence service, the ISI? And to what end? Continuing with our coverage of the global reaction to the WikiLeaks textual bombshell, this editorial from Pakistan's The Nation charges the U.S. with looking for someone to blame for its fast-approaching defeat in the Hindu Kush - and that the massive trove of … [Read more...] about WikiLeaks: U.S. Scapegoats ISI to ‘Hide its Own Shame’: The Nation, Pakistan
Obama Is Damned If He Does, Damned If He Doesn’t
The culture wars. Not the kind Bill O’Reilly talks about. But the kind baby-faced producers and editors think up. Like what President Obama should do. Not about the economy. Or the budget. Or the BP oil clean up. Or the Afghan mission. Or immigration reform. Naahhh. None of the above. I’m talking water cooler conversations. Important stuff. Really critical give and take … [Read more...] about Obama Is Damned If He Does, Damned If He Doesn’t
We can’t predict the future – but it can be fun trying
TMV’s fearless leader and Editor-in-Chief Joe Gandelman posted his thoughts earlier today that Democrats might have blown a generational opportunity for long-term political control. I humbly disagree on some points and agree on others – though both of us could be proven wrong. Perhaps we should contact the alleged clairvoyant Madame Olga on the West Side of Cleveland, Ohio … [Read more...] about We can’t predict the future – but it can be fun trying
Judge Kicks Arizona Immigration Law Down The Road
At first blush, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton issued the best of all decisions Wednesday in the Arizona immigration lawsuit by putting on hold some contentious issues knowing full well she will not be the final word in this case. Killed by preliminary injunction were these provisions of SB1070: 1) Local police checking immigration status of a person detained or arrested; … [Read more...] about Judge Kicks Arizona Immigration Law Down The Road
Afghanistan War Leaks
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Afghanistan War Leaks
Have the Democrats Blown It for a Generation?
Hopes were high when Barack Obama was elected that it was the triumph of the Democratic Party over the Republican Party, which left the United States with grave problems on several fronts. But now amid poll numbers showing a likely rout at the polls in November the question needs to be asked: Have the Democrats blown it for a generation? You can read my thoughts HERE in my … [Read more...] about Have the Democrats Blown It for a Generation?
Judge Bolton Rules On Challenges To Arizona’s Immigration Law – LATEST UPDATES
Federal District Judge Susan Bolton has issued a partial injunction of Arizona’s SB1070 based on several lawsuits against implementation of SB1070, Arizona’s law requiring law enforcement to check the immigration status of those lawfully stopped who they reasonably suspect are illegally in the country. Set to take effect the tomorrow, the law also makes being in the country … [Read more...] about Judge Bolton Rules On Challenges To Arizona’s Immigration Law – LATEST UPDATES
The End of the Mouse
MG Siegler caused a firestorm yesterday when he wrote that the Magic Trackpad signals the end of the mouse: Apple would only say that “we want to offer our users the choice.” They note that plenty of people at Apple have been using the Magic Trackpad alongside the Magic Mouse. “Some operations are better for a mouse, some for a trackpad,” is what I was told. That said, … [Read more...] about The End of the Mouse
Wikileaks’ Enlightened Betrayal: Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany
What lessons can the NATO draw from the mind-choking release of classified Afghanistan data by Wikileaks? According to columnist Arno Widmann of Germany's Frankfurter Rundschau, it all boils down to choosing one of two options. For Frankfurter Rundschau, Arno Widmann writes in part: One thing seems certain now: There will be no peace in Afghanistan for the next few … [Read more...] about Wikileaks’ Enlightened Betrayal: Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany
America and Iran Prepare Ground for Iraq Civil War: Kitabat, Iraq
As Worldmeets.US' postings from the Iraqi press have shown, tensions surrounding the standoff blocking the formation of a new Iraqi government are rising fast. And according to this article by columnist Abd al-Jabbar al-Jabbury of Iraq's Kitabat newspaper, pressure from Washington on the one side and Tehran on the other is rapidly leading to yet another outbreak of sectarian … [Read more...] about America and Iran Prepare Ground for Iraq Civil War: Kitabat, Iraq
Dave Weigel Hired By Slate
Fired from The Washington Post, hired by the Washington Post’s Slate unit. Slate is "editorially independent from the newspaper." Weigel will be a political reporter: "I'm thrilled to be joining Slate, thrilled to be working with writers I've read and respected since logging on to read it meant enduring a symphony of dial-up clicks and hisses," Weigel told The Upshot. "This … [Read more...] about Dave Weigel Hired By Slate
Some thoughts on the “War Logs”
As someone who was part of the intelligence community when the Pentagon Papers were published I'm a little late to the commentary. I have really been trying to compose my thoughts. First some thoughts on classification. There are several classifications: Sensitive Confidential Secret Top Secret There are subcategories of Secret and Top Secret and having the … [Read more...] about Some thoughts on the “War Logs”
Jazz Shaw in Encore Appearance on The Rick Moran Show
You won't want to miss tonight's Rick Moran Show, one of the most popular conservative talk shows on Blog Talk Radio. Tonight, I welcome Jazz Shaw and Charlie Martin to talk about the Wikileaks document dump and what it means for the war effort in Afghanistan. We'll also look at some other hot topics making news today. The show will air from 7:00 - 8:00 PM Central time. … [Read more...] about Jazz Shaw in Encore Appearance on The Rick Moran Show
Breitbart Smear : “A Time For Action”
The traditional media are so petrified of being called "liberal" that they are prepared to allow the Breitbarts of the world to become their assignment editors. [...] When an outlandish charge for which there is no evidence is treated as an on-the-one-hand-and-on-the-other-hand issue, the liars win. This E.J. Dionne Jr. column from yesterday's Washington Post is not only … [Read more...] about Breitbart Smear : “A Time For Action”
New Crush Video Law Passes Congress
In April, the United States Supreme Court, in an 8-1 decision, found unconstitutional the 1999 law seeking to outlaw crush videos. U. S. v. Stevens. Crush videos depict a sexual fetish that involves killing animals, often with stiletto heels. The prior law sought to make it a criminal offense to produce, sell, distribute or own such videos. Last week the U. S. House of … [Read more...] about New Crush Video Law Passes Congress
Daily Show co-creator erupts at feminist blogger during Netroots Nation panel
When I heard that Lizz Winstead, the co-creator of the Daily Show, would appear on a blogger "snark" panel at this year's Netroots Nation, I wondered if the group would address the elephant in the room. It had just been a little over a month since Jezebel -- owned by Gawker Media, one of the most well-known purveyors of "snark" -- had published a piece called "The Daily Show's … [Read more...] about Daily Show co-creator erupts at feminist blogger during Netroots Nation panel
Who Is Lindsay Lohan And Why Should I Care
I am an old guy and for the life of me cannot understand the vox populi attraction for Lindsay Lohan. I’m not that old and I appreciate the talents of pretty women. Lindsay Lohan is one troubled person. She’s got a police rap sheet longer than all the politicians combined in Washington. Mostly its for drug and alcohol abuse. She also has talent. I saw her in one movie, … [Read more...] about Who Is Lindsay Lohan And Why Should I Care
Dionne: Time to Stop Cowering Before Conservative Propaganda
Yesterday at WaPo, E.J. Dionne responded to the Shirley Sherrod fiasco with a blistering indictment of the mainstream media. It's worth reading in full, but here are a couple of key passages: The smearing of Shirley Sherrod ought to be a turning point in American politics. This is not, as the now-trivialized phrase has it, a "teachable moment." It is a time for … [Read more...] about Dionne: Time to Stop Cowering Before Conservative Propaganda